Story perspectives

Supreme Court Rejects Florida Parents' Gender-Identity Policy Challenge

4/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal by Florida parents Jeffrey and January Littlejohn, its third refusal to review parental-rights challenges to gender-identity policies.
Leon County’s 2018 guide required staff to get a student’s consent before informing parents, warning that outing could endanger child health.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal, saying officials acted to help the child and did not shock the conscience.

History

Historical Context

Colorado voters approved Amendment 2 in 1992 by a 53%-to-47% margin; the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated it in Romer v. Evans (1996), a decision authored by Justice Kennedy that began eroding state bans on gay-rights protections. In 2024 the Court declined to review Florida’s Littlejohn case, leaving the 11th Circuit’s 2018 consent rule for transgender students in place.

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Story summary

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal by Florida parents Jeffrey and January Littlejohn, its third refusal to review parental-rights challenges to gender-identity policies.
Leon County’s 2018 guide required staff to get a student’s consent before informing parents, warning that outing could endanger child health.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal, saying officials acted to help the child and did not shock the conscience.

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